April 10, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
CUMBERLAND, ME – This year’s first live pari-mutuel harness racing in the state of Maine kicks off this weekend at Cumberland Raceway, just north of Portland. The iconic Cumberland fairgrounds has hosted Standardbred sport for over 150 years, and this year marks the fifth consecutive season that ‘First Tracks’ has held 50-plus day racing meets in the Pine Tree State.
Ten minutes prior to Friday’s (April 11) first race, drivers and trainers will assemble front side to observe a moment of silence for fallen driver Hunter Myers.
The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday with a ten race card, featuring a $5,000 conditioned trot slated as race two.
Show Me The Magic (2-1, Bruce Ranger) has post position on his side as the 10-year-old son of Donato Hanover leaves from pylon position for trainer Benson Merrill and owner Stan Whittemore. With $224,264 earned lifetime, and 36 victories, the veteran trotter knows his way around the racetrack.
The second choice is To My Credit (7-2, Dave Ingraham) who enjoyed victory in the Camp Kippewa Trot at Cumberland last summer. The 5-year-old son of Credit Winner is trained by Frank Hiscock and owned by TCB Racing.
Another competitive group of trotters vying for $4,400 in race nine is led by Casanova Hall (1-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) who was last seen racing against tougher company at Pocono and the Meadowlands. The 4-year-old son of Greenshoe gets a barn change to Eric Bickmore, who also owns the horse who earned over $60,000 in 2024.
Also worth a look is Rose Run Yakim (4-1) who is familiar with the local oval and scores from post two. Trained by Dakota Niles, the 5-year-old son of Triumphant Caviar gets the services of last year’s leading driver Drew ‘send ’em’ Campbell, who makes his triumphant return from the warmer climes of Gilcrist Training Center in Bell, Florida.
Saturday’s (April 12) card also carries ten races and kicks off with the season’s first Maine Amateur Driving Club event. The $4,000 purse attracted five entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. Michael Girouard drives his own Menlo Park and has been installed as the 4-5 favorite from pylon position.
The area’s better side-steppers square off in the $5,000 fourth race conditioned pace. Zack Vickerson brings Heavensway A (6-5, Switzer Jr.) from Saratoga and looks to dominate. The 8-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven earned nearly $60,000 last season and looks to get a jump start on his win tally this year.
Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.
First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend. First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.
